Lily plant named Madras

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of lily plant named Madras, characterized by its upright flowers, intense bright yellow flower color, long stems, vigorous habit, numerous relatively short and narrow leaves, and by its floriferousness.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of lily,botanically known as Lilium, commercially known as Lilium asiatichybrid, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Madras. Theparents were asiatic varieties belonging to division I described in"Classification of Lily Cultivars into Divisions" published by VictoriaMathews, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1989).

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe primary objective of creating new lily cultivars with a strong orintense yellow flower color, while also achieving other desiredattributes in lily cultivars for cut flower production.

The new cultivar was originated from a hybridization made by theinventor in a controlled breeding program in Rijnsburg, The Netherlandsin 1984. Both the male and female parents are unnamed seedlings.

The new cultivar was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor in June 1984 in acontrolled environment in Rijnsburg, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of the new cultivar wasaccomplished by the inventor when scales were taken from the initialselection in 1987 in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, TheNetherlands.

Horticultural examination of selected units has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Madras are firmlyfixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length,without, however, any variation in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Wageningen andRijnsburg, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new cultivar which in combinationdistinguish this lily as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Brilliant solid yellow flower color;

2. Contrasting light brown to orange brown pollen color;

3. Vigorous growth habit;

4. Long stems;

5. Floriferous habit;

6. Numerous relatively short and narrow leaves;

7. Flowers are held upright.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is Latina. When flowering isforced under natural light, Madras produces an inflorescenceapproximately 36 days earlier than Stargazer, grown under the sameconditions. Madras is fertile. In comparison to Latina, Madras has alighter yellow flower color, more narrow leaves and lighter coloredanthers.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flowercharacteristics of the new cultivar, with colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type. The photograph comprises a topperspective view showing several open flowers and buds at variousstages.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart. The color values weredetermined at Wageningen in 1988-1989 and at Rijnsburg in July 1991.

Origin: Seedling from Breeding Program.

Parentage:

Seed parent.--Unnamed seedling.

Pollen parent.--Unnamed seedling.

Classification:

Botanical.--Lilium.

Commercial.--Asiatic hybrid.

THE PLANT

Form: A single stem carrying numerous pedicels alternately arranged.

Height: Tall; height approximately 120 cm at time of opening of anthersof first flower, depending on growing conditions.

Growth habit: Vigorous.

Stem: Color 144B; angular in transverse section; internodal lengthuniform (1.5 cm); anthocyanin pigmentation present.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Numerous; approximately 130-150 leaves depending on growingconditions.

Size of leaf.--Mature leaves are short to medium in length (16 cm), andnarrow in width (2 cm).

Shape of leaves.--Elliptical.

Texture.--Smooth with strong glossiness on upper side; no pubescence.

Color.--Medium green 137A.

Bulbs:

Size.--Outlet 6-22 cm.

Color.--White.

Roots: Both stem and contractile present.

THE BUD

Form: Tapering (like a lancet).

Size: 8 cm prior to opening.

Opening: Unfolds normally.

Color: 154B (prior to opening).

Tepals: Folded, three visible.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Raceme.

Size: 16 cm in total diameter, depending on growing conditions.

Borne: Upright.

Shape: Generally in form of hexagonal star.

Tepalage:

Number of tepals.--Six.

Arrangement.--Three inner and three outer base portions of each tepalrelatively narrow and with reduced overlap, slight marginal undulationouter tepals.

Color.--Upper surface: Intense bright yellow, slightly darker and moreintense than 14A. Lower surface: Yellow 14A.

Spotting or marking.--None or very few tiny spots.

Nectaries and papillae: Present.

Pedicel:

Length.--8 cm (of first flower).

Color.--Medium green.

Form.--Slightly curved.

Texture: Ribbed and papillose.

Disease resistance: No disease problems noted to date.

Fragrance: Absent.

Lasting quality: Excellent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens, anthers:

Arrangement.--Anthers form a generally circular pattern.

Length.--Very short to short (5.5 cm).

Number.--Six.

Filaments.--Light yellow to yellow.

Pollen color: Light brown to orange brown.

Anther color: Yellow.

Pistils: One yellow style; total length of pistil is 7 cm.

Stigma: Red purple stigma.

Ovaries: Triangular in shape; other characteristics typical of asiaticlily varieties.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of lily plant named Madras, asillustrated and described.